Depends on what type of carving you are looking forward to trying. There are several types. Chip carving, relief carving, chain saw carving, character carving, etc. Chip carving is probably the simplest, but can be the most strenuous and time consuming because each little cut takes muscle and patience. It’s the cheapest way to carve too, you only need a few knifes. But you have to be a little meticulous. Unlike the other types of carving. In relief carving you can use a mallet for a majority of the work, and actually all the other carving can be done this way too. That way you can take a majority of the wood out quickly. But with the other carving you need a lot more tools too. I bought Two cherries carving sets. I bought the set of 6 and then the set of 12. They are pricy but are nice. Flex cut tools are nice because you can buy a master carver and use the blades on it’s recipricating hand piece. If you choose to use a power carver instead of sweat and tears. Personally I love the quiet of the chisel, and the way the blade cuts the wood as I push it. I don’t want to hear some stupid carver. And the hand pieces get really hot at times.
Aside from all that, I would assume that relief carving is a good place to start if you want to learn how to use the various chisels. The truth is, and it even says it in magazines like fine woodworking, that as a carver you will pick “choice tools” that you like to use, and all the others will stay in the tool roll. This is more then true. In fact I use a 1/4” straight chisel more then I use any of the gouges I purchased.
As far as wood goes, there’s the famous basswood (mostly used for character carving). This wood has no grain pattern to screw you up. Mahogany is excellant to carve as well. In all reality it depends on what you are trying to achieve. Are you going to paint it or stain it. Or maybe a clear finish. Is it going to be on a project like a box or cabinet? Then you need to use the same material for it as you do the rest of the project. Remember too, your carving is only going to be as good as your tools. You need to keep them honed. So you need to buy some waterstones (I prefer these but you can get oil stones) a leather strop, and some honing compound. Sharpening is a whole other animal you will need to learn if you want to be a good wood carver. The importance of it is as important as the tools you purchase. Are you better off buying a cheap set to start, but with many tools? Or are you better off buying less tools with better steel that can be sharpened and honed better, and that keep an edge longer? I prefer the latter. Anyhow, theres not much anyone can teach you. You need to have visual perception. How deep should you make a cut? etc. Lora S. Irish’s Wildlife in Relief is a good book if you want to try your hand at relief carving. Or any carving for that matter. She explains quite a bit in it. About the wood, I’ve carved Maple with good luck, basswood, mahogany, walnut, cherry, birch, alder, bubinga, and red oak. The red oak is obviously the hardest because of it’s grain. It chips out. But I did it because my chisels were sharp.
I wish you luck. It is an excellent hobby.
-- ~ Inspiring those who inspire me ~
